Will Ratcliffe

William F. Ratcliffe, better known as Will, was born on November 17, 1976, to Dr. Alfred A. and Gaynell Ratcliffe. Dr. Ratcliffe worked with Dr. Wayne Peters and Dr. Michael Belyeu in forming the Sand Mountain Family Practice Center in Albertville. “Doc Al” and his partners served as team doctors for the Aggie athletic and band programs for over 25 years. In high school, Al was an offensive lineman and wrestler, competing in the State Wrestling Tournament and wrestling in college at Virginia Tech. Gaynell excelled in softball and was a Registered Nurse, a member of the Marshall County Board of Education and served in many local service organizations. Sadly, both have passed away. Will has an older brother, “Alfie,” who was a member of the Aggie Band, golf and tennis teams and a sister, Dr. Ann Elizabeth Jacobson, who was a talented dancer at Birmingham Southern.

Will played football at Albertville HS for HOF Coach Paul McAbee from 1992-94. He was a tight end and long snapper and a two-time All-Marshall County and All-Area player. Following his senior season, Will was recognized as a Bryant-Jordan Scholar Athlete, First Team ASWA All-State, Birmingham News Honorable Mention All-State, Academic All-Star, and winner of the Vernon Wells Award. He was also captain of the track & field team, winning 1st place in the discus at the Marshall County Track Meet and 4th in the State Meet.

Following an outstanding career at AHS, Will received several offers to play college football, finally deciding to play for “The Crimson” at Harvard University in the Ivy League. Will played center and long snapper on the 1995 freshman team before moving up to the varsity as a sophomore. He played in every game that year at center and was awarded the 1996 Dan Jiggett’s Most Improved Offensive Lineman Award. Will’s line coach was Joe Philbin, who later became Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins.

In the spring of 1997, Will started at center when Harvard went to Kyoto, Japan, for a nationally televised game celebrating the 50th anniversary of American football in Japan. In pre-season practice that year, he received a lower-back injury. After extensive rehab, Will was able to return to play as Harvard beat rival Yale in the last game. The Crimson won the Ivy League Championship and Will received an Ivy League championship ring. However, the back injury continued to plague his performance, and he returned home for surgery at UAB. Will was advised to give up football prior to his senior year. While recuperating at home, he helped Coach McAbee with the Aggie linemen before returning to complete his degree at Harvard, graduating in 2000. In addition to football, he was also on the track and field team, throwing the shot, discus, and hammer.

Following graduation from Harvard, Will worked 2 years at a Guest Ranch in Colorado before returning to Alabama to work for the Birmingham Office of Economic Affairs and the Birmingham Zoo. In 2006, he represented the City of Birmingham and the Zoo in Hitachi, Japan. Will was also employed at UAB in cardiovascular disease research and currently works with the Helena Police Department. For several years, he also served as a football and baseball official for the AHSAA and the Sun Belt Conference. Will’s wife “Cappy” works in the counseling department at Thompson High School. They have three children: William (10) and twins Benjamin and Anne Elizabeth (8). The boys play youth football, baseball, basketball, and soccer, and Anne Elizabeth plays soccer and dances. The family attends Briarwood Presbyterian Church where Will serves as a deacon.